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Drama Canadian

Jonas and Barry in the Home

by (author) Norm Foster

Publisher
Playwrights Canada Press
Initial publish date
Oct 2018
Category
Canadian
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781770919501
    Publish Date
    Oct 2018
    List Price
    $15.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781770919525
    Publish Date
    Oct 2018
    List Price
    $10.99

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Description

“When life comes knocking you don’t want it to find you on the couch in a soiled bathrobe.”

Norm Foster’s quick wit is strong in this lighthearted buddy comedy about living life to its fullest.

Barry is annoyed that he’s already living in a seniors’ home at sixty-seven, but it’s worth it to live near his daughter, Rosie. Rosie, who works at the home, brought him in so he wouldn’t be alone in case he has a heart attack like his father, brother, and uncle did before they were sixty-five. So Barry spends his time shuffling around in his slippers, taking naps, and having dinner with Rosie, and that’s good enough for him.

But Barry doesn’t get to revel in the quiet for long. Enter the loquacious and flirtatious Jonas, who wrote one hit song thirty-seven years ago. Jonas likes to indulge in the finer things in life, like decadent dates and nice clothes, and he sees Barry the curmudgeon as a fixer-upper. As they bicker and bond over women, sports, and family values, Jonas and Barry must learn to open up and face how to keep living their lives.

About the author

Norm Foster was born in Newmarket, Ontario on St. Valentineâ??s Day. Raised in Toronto, he attended West Hill Collegiate Institute and then went on to study Radio and Television Arts at Centennial College in Toronto and then Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Upon completion of his studies, he began a radio career that would span twenty-five years and which would take him from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg to Kingston and finally to Fredericton, New Brunswick. It was in Fredericton in 1980 that Norm was introduced to the world of theatre. Foster fell in love with the theatre right then and there, and two years later he penned his first professionally produced play, Sinners. It was produced by Theatre New Brunswick and directed by Malcolm Black, who would also direct Fosterâ??s next effort, the highly successful, The Melville Boys. The Melville Boys would go on to be produced across Canada and in the United States, including a well-received run Off Broadway in New York. It would become Fosterâ??s signature play, and the one which would bring his name to the forefront of Canadian theatre. Since then, Norm Foster has produced an astonishing output of work. Nearly forty plays in all, including The Affections of May, the most produced play in Canada in 1991. He has also written a musical with composer Leslie Arden (The Last Resort) and three musicals (Jasper Station, Race Day, and Sitting Pretty) with composer Steve Thomas.

Norm Foster's profile page

Editorial Reviews

“It’s a remarkable piece of writing.” —Ron Foley MacDonald, The Chronicle Herald

“The play is a roller coaster of emotions, evoking uncontrollable laughter one moment and profound sadness the next.” —Chris Daponte, The Wellington Advertiser